Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Canton, MA 02021

Canton: median income $143,381, home value $710,600, $425/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Derwood, MD 20855 93%378$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 91%196$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22310 91%392$166,061$659,700$355 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 89%149$133,988$668,000$425 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older homes
Ramsey, NJ 07446 88%173$160,996$697,300$450 smaller · older homes
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 88%208$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($188K less) · larger
Edison, NJ 08820 87%200$171,363$630,200$391 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Blue Bell, PA 19422 86%256$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Annapolis, MD 21403 86%358$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Kenmore, WA 98028 86%2,482$139,764$920,800$474 pricier homes ($210K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08691 85%224$132,520$552,000$305 cheaper homes ($159K less) · newer homes
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 85%215$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · less walkable
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 85%130$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 85%238$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 84%211$168,696$591,200$369 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Melville, NY 11747 84%151$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Ambler, PA 19002 84%253$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Burke, VA 22015 84%398$172,563$696,500$346 higher income ($29K more) · larger
Westwood, NJ 07675 83%168$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($40K more) · older homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 83%200$169,497$665,700$351 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22152 83%397$165,906$648,200$327 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more homeowners
Springfield, VA 22153 83%398$174,228$693,600$344 higher income ($31K more) · more homeowners
Caldwell, NJ 07006 82%186$149,102$694,400$434 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Flemington, NJ 08822 82%224$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($174K less) · less walkable
Roseland, NJ 07068 81%188$164,458$665,700$419 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · older residents

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.